A Walk Down Memory Lane

Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reeled
A fatal attraction holding me fast, how
Can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I

Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to guide my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone
A soul in tension that's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air,
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night
There's no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, A state of bliss
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Before I begin; a little disclaimer. I grew up in an all-boys school where my interaction with girls was almost non-existent. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that I (still) am a very shy person.

It was the day after Christmas and the Club had a Boxing Night event. I went a little early so I could swim for a bit and make a quick trip to the library. They have a very nice diving board and I would simply love to get up on it and take a plunge, over and over again.

Mom, dad and Mamta arrived later and I joined them for dinner. The place was full and I recognized a few of my classmates in the crowd. Around nine or so, they started playing some of the popular tunes and people got up to dance. I just sat by my table watching them, wanting to join in but lacking the courage to do so. [Ah, the good old days; not that I am any better now – hee hee]. Mom encouraged me to get out there but I was just to shy to step on to the dance floor.

The night wore on and I simply watched from the sidelines. As we were about to leave, I do not exactly know what got into me but I decided to go for it. With my heart pounding, I walked up to this girl and asked her if I may have this dance. To my pleasant surprise, she agreed and we walked up to the dance floor.

All of a sudden, the music dropped tempo and a slow number started playing. Ack, I was caught completely off guard. I did not know what to do, but somehow we got into position and began dancing.

I am not sure whether I stepped on her toes or not [let us just hope I did not]. We chatted a little as the song took its course and after a little while, it was done. [That was not so hard now, was it?] I thanked her at the end of it and ran back to my table, all flushed.

Mom said I had been jumping about a little but otherwise we looked adorable. I just sat there and blushed, stilling reeling in from what had just happened – my very first dance.

This was a long time ago when I was little. I showed up at the poolside in my new swimming trunks, with floats wrapped around each arm. I’d been wading in the little inflatable pool that dad had got me and my sister and was looking forward to the real thing. I was nervous, but excited.

That’s when I saw the coach. This big, huge man was just about wrapping up the previous class. The kids were all on the deep end of the pool (8 feet) clinging to the side, some with frightened expressions on their faces. They had been asked to make a circuit of the entire pool.

They finished their round, got out of the pool and went over to him. All of a sudden the coach picked up one of the kids and threw him into the deep end. I recognized the boy from school. He panicked for a bit and then began kicking his arms and legs. He did manage to keep his head above the water, but just barely. What seemed like ages later, the coach dived in and helped him to the side.

Fortunately, my class did not have to venture to the deep side. I did as I was instructed; mostly breathing exercises but at the same time dreading what was to come next.

The class came to an end and I went to change. I guess it was more subconsciously that I left my swimming trunks behind before heading home. The next day, mom could not find them and somehow I convinced her that it was quite alright, glad that I did not have to go back.

Later on when I was in my teens I did teach myself how to swim, mostly from watching others. I love swimming and it remains one of my favorite sports. But what a day that was.